Fastening means for a disposable diaper

ABSTRACT

A disposable diaper having a moisture-impermeable backing sheet and highly absorbent moisture-retaining layer superposed on the backing sheet is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive surface which is presented through a cutout region within the perimetric limits of the diaper. The adhesive surface faces in the same direction as the inside surface of the diaper and when the diaper is wrapped about the torso of an infant the adhesive surface overlaps a portion of the backing sheet and adheres thereto.

United States Patent Cepuritis et a1.

1451 Aug. 26, 1975 FASTENING MEANS FOR A DISPOSABLE DIAPER Inventors: Talivaldis Cepuritis; Gunta Cepuritis, both of Kenilworth, lll.

Assignee: Johnson & Johnson, New

Brunswick, NJ.

Filed: July 31, 1974 Appl. No.: 493,355

US. Cl. 128/284; 128/287; 156/234;

161/145 Int. Cl..... B44d 1/20; A6lf 13/16; A4lb 13/02 Field of Search 128/284, 287, 290 R;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1968 Frohbach et a1 161/145 3,432,376 3/1969 Rccd ct a1 156/234 3,646,937 3/1972 Gellert 3,794,038 2/1974 Buell 128/287 Primary Examiner-Aldrich F. Medbery 5 7] ABSTRACT A disposable diaper having a moisture-impermeable backing sheet and highly absorbent moisture-retainin g layer superposed on the backing sheet is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive surface which is presented through a cutout region within the perimetric limits of the diaper. The adhesive surface faces in the same direction as the inside surface of the diaper and when the diaper is wrapped about the torso of an infant the adhesive surface overlaps a portion of the backing sheet and adheres thereto.

17 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to diapers. More particularly, this invention relates to diapers which are adapted to be used once and then discarded.

Disposable diapers provide substantial advantages in convenience over conventional diapers and have a gen erally quadrilateral configuration. The diaper can be substantially rectangular or contoured along the longitudinal edges thereof. Disposable diapers are secured about an infant usually be safety pins or preferably by means of adhesive tape tabs which are affixed to the diaper along a longitudinal edge thereof. However, the tabs project above and/or beyond the confines of the diaper to a considerable extend and interfere with the efficient manufacture, folding and packaging of the diapers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,234 to Hoey proposes to fold the tab over on itself at the diapers edge and to adhesively attach a portion of the folded-over tab segment to the inside surface of the diaper in order to keep the tab from interfering with manufacturing machinery and with the folding and packaging operations. This requires a relatively involved tab design as well as added manufacturing manipulations to properly attach the tab to the diaper. Also, undesirable tearing of the diaper fabric may result as such a tab is used ifa portion of the folded-over tab segment is adhesively attached to the fabric. U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,937 to Gellert shows a fastening tab provided with a release surface which is permanently bonded to the inside surface of the diaper; however, such an arrangement is disadvantageous because the release surface may be placed in contact with the infant's skin when the diaper is used. I

U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,651 to Torr shows diaper corner areas coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive primarily intended for adhesive-on-adhesive contact for proper attachment. Complementary areas along the transverse edge of the diaper are coated with a release material. The relatively large amounts of adhesive and release materials that would have to be used on each diaper would render the areas along the transverse edges of the diaper, i.e., that portion of the diaper which ultimately envelops an infants waist, undesirably stiff. Moreover, the relatively large amounts of release material that would have to be coated onto the bodycontacting layer of the diaper could deleteriously affect moisture-permeability therethrough. Also, in instances where the body-contacting layer is made of a fibrous, non-woven web, adhesive material cannot be printed onto the corners of such a layer because the web is not strong enough to provide adequate diaper fastening means when adhered to ajuxtaposed portion of the diaper barrier layer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates a diaposable diaper of substantially quadrilateral configuration having an inside surface for direction toward an infant and an outside surface for direction away from the infant. The disposable diaper is provided with an adhesive fastening means within the perimetric limits and spaced from the transverse edges of the diaper. The diaper comprises a thin, flexible backing sheet of substantially moistureimpermeable material, moisture-retaining layer including a pad of fibrous, non-woven absorbent material superposed on said backing sheet and attached thereto,

and a pressure sensitive adhesive fastening means secured to the backing sheet and presenting through a cut-out region in the diaper an adhesive surface which is contiguous to the inner surface of the diaper. A facing sheet of a fibrous, non-woven, moisture-permeable material can be provided substantially coextensive with the backing sheet as a part of the moisture-retaining material. Prior to use the adhesive surface of the fastening means is covered with a release sheet means which is readily removable upon use and preferably is permanently attached to the diaper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a diaper of this invention in the form normally assumed during use;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the diaper shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2 and enlarged to show interior detail;

FIG. 4 is a similar fragmentary sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing yet another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a contoured substantially quadrilateral diaper embodying the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along plane 7-7 in FIG. 6 and enlarged to show interior detail;

FIG. 8 is a similar fragmentary sectional view illustrating the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is another fragmentary sectional view further illustrating this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, diaper 10 is shown in a form usually assumed when applied to an infant. Inside surface 11 is directed toward the infant and outside surface 12 is directed away from the infant. Adhesive fasteners 13 and 114 are located near longitudinal edges 15 and 16, respectively, and adjacent to respective top corners l7 and 18 (FIG. 2). As diaper 10 is applied to the torso of an infant, it assumes the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and top corners l7 and 18 overlap bottom corners 19 and 20 so that adhesive surfaces 21 and 22 of fasteners 13 and 14 contact diaper outside surface 12 near bottom corners l9 and 20, and are adhesively attached thereto without the need of tabs while transverse edges 23 and 24 of diaper 10 surround the infants midsection. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, diaper 10 is made up of thin, flexible backing sheet 26 which is substantially moisture-impermeable. A suitable backing sheet can be made of an opaque polyethylene web about 0.00l inch thick. Other suitable flexible sheets can be made from a polyethylene terephthalate web about 0.0005 inch thick. A moisture-retaining layer 25, which includes a central highly absorbent pad 66 usually having a rectangular configuration, is superposed on backing sheet 26 and attached to backing sheet 26 in any convenient manner, e.g., by adhesive attachment. If desired, an additional facing sheet of a non-woven fabric of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,055 to Mesek et al. can be applied over the absorbent pad as a part of moistureretaining layer 25. Another diaper construction eminently suitable for practicing the present invention is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,916 to Mesek et al. Still other suitable disposable diaper structures are shown in US. Pat. No. Re. 26,l5l to Duncan et al.

Within the perimetric limits of diaper l0, cut-out open regions such as notches 27 and 28 are provided proximate to respective longitudinal edges and 16 and spaced from transverse edge 23 (FIG. 2), and pressure-sensitive adhesive tape segments 29 and 30 are applied to outside surface 12 and over the notches. Segments 29 and 30 are adhesively attached to backing sheet 26 by pressure-sensitive adhesive layers, such as layer 31 on segment 29 (FIG. 3), which layers also present adhesive surfaces 21 and 22 facing in the same direction as diaper inside surface 11, and which are contiguous to inside surface 11 formed by moistureretaining layer 25. Additionally, segments 29 and 30 provide reinforcement for backing sheet 26 around notches 27 and 28. During manufacture and handling, adhesive surfaces 21 and 22 are covered by a suitable release sheet of a non-tacky material, e.g., siliconecoated paper strip, smooth non-adherent plastic strip, or the like, which is readily removable from adhesive surfaces 21 and 22 when diaper 10 is to be secured about an infant.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of this invention where notch 32 is cut only in moisture-retaining layer 33 overlying backing sheet 36 of the diaper, and adhesive tape segment 34, bearing adhesive layer 35, is superposed on backing sheet 36 in cut-out region 32 and is suitably bonded to backing sheet 36. Adhesive layer 35, which faces in the same direction as the diaper inside surface, is covered with release sheet 37 which is integral with segment 34 and extends inwardly from adhesive surface 35 and away from the diaper edge so as to provide free end 38 which facilitates the grasping and removal of release sheet 37 from adhesive surface 35 when the diaper is about to be used. However, by being an integral extension of tape segment, release sheet 37 remains permanently attached to the diaper and does not present any disposal problems.

In FIG. 5 notch 39 is again provided only in diaper fabric layer 40 to expose an inner surface of backing sheet 41, and adhesive layer 42 is applied directly onto the inner surface. Preferably adhesive layer 42 is spread or applied on the inner surface of backing sheet 41 so as to occupy an area slightly larger than the area of cut-out region or notch 39 in order to provide adhesive bonding of moisture-retaining layer 40 to backing sheet 41 around the periphery of notch 39. Release sheet 43, integral with backing sheet 41 and provided with free end 44, covers adhesive layer 42. In this embodiment release sheet 43 can be a portion or strip of backing sheet 41 coated with a release material and which is folded over adhesive layer 42 as shown in FIG. 5.

The adhesive region of the diaper fasteners of this invention can also have a curvilinear configuration as shown in FIG. 6 where contoured diaper 45 having moisture-retaining layer 46 substantially coextensive with and superposed on moisture-impermeable backing sheet 47 (FIG. 7) is provided with circular cut-outs or windows 48 and 49. In this particular embodiment, tape segment 50 bearing adhesive layer 51 is adhesively attached to backing sheet 47 and over circular cut-out or window 49 in backing sheet 47 and pad or layer 46 so as to present adhesive surface 52 facing in the same direction as diaper inside surface 53, and at the same time reinforcing the backing sheet portion about window 49. As illustrated in connection with window 48, circular release sheet 54 having a diameter larger than the diameter of 48 can be applied over the presented adhesive surface. Alternatively, the release sheet can be made integral with tape segment 50 or with backing sheet 47 as desired.

If desired, a cut-out region can be provided only in the diaper fabric layer as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 8 circular thermoplastic tab segment 56 bearing pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 57 covered by release sheet 58 is disposed within circular window 55 in moisture-retaining layer 59 and is bonded to thermoplastic backing sheet 60 by fusion, adhesive attachment or similar means. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, circular window 61 in moisture-retaining layer 65 exposes the inner surface of backing sheet 62 which is provided with adhesive layer 63 suitably protected by means of release sheet 64.

Suitable pressure-sensitive adhesives for the present purposes are known in the art and possess good tack, good cohesive strength, good moisture resistance and good resistance to aging. Illustrative of such adhesive compositions are mixtures of natural or synthetic rubber with zinc oxide and various resins, natural or synthetic rubber or resin latices, tacky acrylic polymers or copolymers, and the like.

In use, the diaper equipped with the fastening means of this invention is applied to the infant by laying out the diaper on a suitable flat surface and placing the infant thereon so that the waist underlying end of the dipaer is that having the fastener means. The other end of the diaper then extends downwardly between the infants legs. Next, the downwardly extending end of the diaper is brought up between the infants legs to a position contiguous to the front of the infants waist. The diaper is thereafter secured to the infant by placing the corners of the waist portion of the abdomen-covering end as far around the infants waist as they will go and by bringing the corners of the underlying end of the diaper into an overlapping relationship with the aforementioned corners so that the diaper snugly encircles the infants waist. The release sheets are then lifted from the adhesive surfaces of the fastener means in the overlapping portions, and these portions are fixed in such positions by simply urging the pressure-sensitive adhesive surfaces in contact with the outside surface of the underlying diaper backing sheet and thus custom fitting the diaper about the infant.

The foregoing description and the drawing are illustrative but are not to be taken as limiting. Still other variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A disposable diaper of substantially quadrilateral configuration defined by longitudinal and transverse peripheral edges and having an inside surface for direction toward an infant when the diaper is worn by that infant and an outside surface for direction away from said infant, which disposable diaper comprises a thin, flexible backing sheet of substantially moistureimpermeable material, a moisture-retaining layer including a pad of a fibrous, non-woven, absorbent material superposed on said backing sheet and attached thereto, and an adhesive fastening means on the diaper and within the perimetric limits thereof; said fastening means being secured to said backing sheet and presenting through a cut-out open region in said diaper a pressure-sensitive adhesive surface contiguous to the inside surface of the diaper and spaced from the transverse peripheral edges thereof.

2. The disposable diaper of claim 1, wherein a release sheet permanently attached to the diaper removably covers said pressure-sensitive adhesive surface.

3. The disposable diaper of claim 1, wherein the adhesive fastening means is a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape segment applied on the outside surface of the diaper over the cut-out region which is situated in the dia per proximate to a longitudinal edge thereof; said segment being adhesively attached to the backing sheet so that the adhesive side of the tape presents an adhesive surface facing in the same direction as and contiguous with the inside surface of the diaper.

4. The disposable diaper of claim 3, wherein a release sheet permanently attached to the diaper removably covers said adhesive surface.

5. The disposable diaper of claim 3, wherein the cutout region is a notch extending inwardly from the longitudinal edge of the diaper.

6. The disposable diaper of claim 3, wherein the cutout region is a window near the longitudinal edge of the diaper.

7. The disposable diaper of claim ll, wherein said fabric layer is provided with a cut-out region in said moisture-retaining layer exposing an inner surface portion of said backing sheet proximate to a longitudinal edge of the diaper, and wherein a pressure-sensitive adhesive material is applied over said exposed inner surface portion so as to present an adhesive surface facing in the same direction as the inside surface of the diaper.

8. The disposable diaper of claim 7, wherein said cutout region is a notch extending inwardly from a longitudinal edge of the diaper.

9. The disposable diaper of claim 7, wherein said cutout region is a window near the longitudinal edge of the diaper.

10. The disposable diaper of claim 7, wherein said pressure-sensitive adhesive material extends beyond said exposed inner surface portion and provides adhesive attachment of said fabric layer to said backing sheet about the periphery of the cut-out region.

ll. The disposable diaper of claim 7, wherein a release sheet permanently attached to said backing sheet removably covers said adhesive material.

12. The disposable diaper of claim 7, wherein a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape segment is situated over said exposed inner surface portion of said backing sheet proximate to a longitudinal edge thereof, said segment being secured to said backing sheet, and pres enting an adhesive surface facing in the same direction as the inside surface of the diaper and contiguous thereto.

13. The disposable diaper of claim 12, wherein a release sheet permanently attached to the diaper covers said presented adhesive surface.

14. The disposable diaper of claim 13, wherein the release sheet is integral with said segment.

15. The disposable diaper of claim 12, wherein the adhesive tape segment has a generally rectangular configuration and extends inwardly from the longitudinal edge of the diaper.

B6. The disposable diaper of claim 12, wherein the adhesive tape segment has a generally curvilinear periphery.

17. The disposable diaper of claim 12, wherein a releast sheet integral with said backing sheet covers said presented adhesive surface. 

1. A disposable diaper of substantially quadrilateral configuration defined by longitudinal and transverse peripheral edges and having an inside surface for direction toward an infant when the diaper is worn by that infant and an outside surface for direction away from said infant, which disposable diaper comprises a thin, flexible backing sheet of substantially moistureimpermeable material, a moisture-retaining layer including a pad of a fibrous, non-woven, absorbent material superposed on said backing sheet and attached thereto, and an adhesive fastening means on the diaper and within the perimetric limits thereof; said fastening means being secured to said backing sheet and presenting through a cut-out open region in said diaper a pressure-sensitive adhesive surface contiguous to the inside surface of the diaper and spaced from the transverse peripheral edges thereof.
 2. The disposable diaper of claim 1, wherein a release sheet permanently attached to the diaper removably covers said pressure-sensitive adhesive surface.
 3. The disposable diaper of claim 1, wherein the adhesive fastening means is a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape segment applied on the outside surface of the diaper over the cut-out region which is situated in the diaper proximate to a longitudinal edge thereof; said segment being adhesively attached to the backing sheet so that the adhesive side of the tape presents an adhesive surface facing in the same direction as and contiguous with the inside surface of the diaper.
 4. The disposable diaper of claim 3, wherein a release sheet permanently attached to the diaper removably covers said adhesive surface.
 5. The disposable diaper of claim 3, wherein the cut-out region is a notch extending inwardly from the longitudinal edge of the diaper.
 6. The disposable diaper of claim 3, wherein the cut-out region is a window near the longitudinal edge of the diaper.
 7. The disposable diaper of claim 1, whereIn said fabric layer is provided with a cut-out region in said moisture-retaining layer exposing an inner surface portion of said backing sheet proximate to a longitudinal edge of the diaper, and wherein a pressure-sensitive adhesive material is applied over said exposed inner surface portion so as to present an adhesive surface facing in the same direction as the inside surface of the diaper.
 8. The disposable diaper of claim 7, wherein said cut-out region is a notch extending inwardly from a longitudinal edge of the diaper.
 9. The disposable diaper of claim 7, wherein said cut-out region is a window near the longitudinal edge of the diaper.
 10. The disposable diaper of claim 7, wherein said pressure-sensitive adhesive material extends beyond said exposed inner surface portion and provides adhesive attachment of said fabric layer to said backing sheet about the periphery of the cut-out region.
 11. The disposable diaper of claim 7, wherein a release sheet permanently attached to said backing sheet removably covers said adhesive material.
 12. The disposable diaper of claim 7, wherein a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape segment is situated over said exposed inner surface portion of said backing sheet proximate to a longitudinal edge thereof, said segment being secured to said backing sheet, and presenting an adhesive surface facing in the same direction as the inside surface of the diaper and contiguous thereto.
 13. The disposable diaper of claim 12, wherein a release sheet permanently attached to the diaper covers said presented adhesive surface.
 14. The disposable diaper of claim 13, wherein the release sheet is integral with said segment.
 15. The disposable diaper of claim 12, wherein the adhesive tape segment has a generally rectangular configuration and extends inwardly from the longitudinal edge of the diaper.
 16. The disposable diaper of claim 12, wherein the adhesive tape segment has a generally curvilinear periphery.
 17. The disposable diaper of claim 12, wherein a releast sheet integral with said backing sheet covers said presented adhesive surface. 